Wing surface



April 2o, 1937. H, 'L ADAMS `2,077,732

` WING SURFACE Filed Nov. 22, 1932 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE WING summon Herbert Luther Adams, Washington, D. C.Application NovemberZZ, 1932, Serial No. 644,567

` 4 claims. (01. 244-123) This invention relates to aerofoils for,flying machines, and more particularly to Wing surfaces therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide Wing surfaceswhich may be supported with a minimum amount of bracingl to produce an vaerofoil having maximum rigidity-and strength With very little weight,

A further object of the invention is to provide wing surfaces asaforesaid wherein corrugated material is employed to give rigidity andstrength throughout the entire area of said surfaces.

A further object of the invention isA to provide Wing surfaces asaforesaid which may be embodied in an aerofoil having relatively fewparts, and

from which the wing surfaces may be readily removed should it becomenecessary to repair the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a ing machine wing or aerofoilvembodying wing surfaces in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section through the wing Vasindicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, perspective of the material from which thelwing surfaces are formed.

' Figures 4.and 5 are modifications of the material shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals I and 2 respectivelyindicate generally upper and lower wing sections connected at theirforward-edges with a forward section 3, and disposed on opposite sidesof a frame-extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, and designatedgenerally by the numeral 4.

Each of the sections I and 2 includes a smooth,

40 substantially flat outer or surface member 5, and

a corrugated inner reinforcing or backing member 6. The forward section3 includes a smooth outer or surface member 1 and a corrugated innerreinforcing or backing member 8. The membersi 1 and 8 are similar to themembers 5 and 6 respectively, except that the members 1 and 8 are curvedthroughout an arc of substantially, 180. The members 1 and 8 are securedadjacent their rear edges to each other and to the members 5 and 6adjacent the forward edges of the latter by any suitable means such asthe rivets 9, and

the upper members 5 and 6 are secured to each` other and to the lowermembers 5 and 6 by any suitable means such as the bolts I0. Thecorrugations of the member 8 preferably extend longitudinally of theaerofoil, and the corrugations of the members 6 preferably extendtransversely of the aerofoil, thereby disposing the corrugations ofthelreinforcing or backing members 6 at right angles to the corrugations ofthe reinforcing or 5 backing member 8.

The frame 4 preferably is tubular lin form and comprises a front portionII and a rear portion I2 connected by an outer portion I3, and allconstructed or assembled in a single unit. The por- 10 tions II and I2provide girders extending longi- Atudinally of the aerofoil, whichpreferably taper outwardly, and also converge outwardly .with respect toeach other. An inner' end part of the front portion II preferably isprovided with a l5 corrugated backing member I4 disposed therein to giveadditional rigidity to the portion thereof having the greatest diameter.The frame 4A is wedged between the sections I and 2, with thecortugations of the members 6 extending tra-ns- 2o vcrsely of and infrictinal contact with the front and rear portions I.I and I2v of theframe 4. If,

desired, any suitable additional means may be employed for securing thesections I and 2 Jto the frame 4. 25

In addition to the corrugated reinforcing member 6 for each outer orsurface member 5, the latter may be further .reinforced if desired by asmooth reinforcing member I5 disposed on the inner'face of the member 6as shown in Figure 4. 30 In this manner the rigidity of the surfaces maybe increased in an aerofo-il wherein additional rigidity is desirable,and wherein a corresponding increase in Weight is not objectionable.Also, under the same circumstances, a construction as 35 shown in Figure5 may be employed.\ This latter construction comprises outer and innercorrugated members IG and I1, and an intermediate corrugated member I8..Preferably the conugations, of the members I6 and I1 will extend at 40right angles to each other, with the corrugations of the member I8extending diagonally at the corrugations of the members I6 and I1.Either of the structures shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be incorporated inthe forward section 3 of the 45 aerofoil, with the corrugations in thesection 3 extending substantially at rightangles to the correspondingcorrugations in the sections I and 2. l

Suitable means of attaching this wing surface 50 and framing to anaircraft and to each other is included vas self evident, if desired inspecial cases.

Having described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: 55

l. ln an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved sheetsurface recnforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing having itscorrugations extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, upper and lowersections extending rearwardly from the front section and each comprisingan aerofoil surface sheet recnforced by a corrugated sheet of backinghaving its corrugations extending substantially at right angles to thecorrugations in the front section, a tubular longitudinal frame with andconnected to said aerofoil, means for securing said upper and lowersections to said front section, and means for securing said upper andlower sections together at their rear edges.

2. In an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved sheetsurface reenforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing having itscorrugations extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, upper and lowersections extending rearwardly from the front section and each comprisingan aerofoil surface sheet recnforced by a corrugated sheet of backinghaving its corrugations vextending substantially at right angles to thecorrugations in' the front section, a frame coinprising` vgirdersextending longitudinally of `the aerofoil and disposed between saidupper and lower sections, means for securing said upper and lowersections to said front section, and means for securing said upper andlower sections together at their rear edges.

3. In an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved sheetsurface recnforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing having itscorrugations extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, upper and lowersections extending rearwardly from the front section and each comprisingan aerofoil surface sheet reenforced by a corrugated sheet ot backinghaving its corrugations extending substantially'at right angles to thecorrugations in the front section, a frame comprising girders extendinglongitudinally of the aerofoil and wedged between said upper and lowersections in frictional engagement with the corrugations thereof, meansfor securing said upper and lower sections to said front section, andmeans for securing said upper and lower sections together attheir rearedges.

4. In an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved\sheetsurface reenforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing, upper andlower sections extending rearwardly `lfrom the front section and eachgcomprising an aerofoil surface sheet recnforced by a corrugated sheet ofbacking, a tubular frame\cemprising a pair of girders-'extendinglongitudinally of the aerofoil and disposed between said upperyand lowersections, said girders converging with respect to each other in anoutward direction and each tapering in the same direction, one of saidgirders being larger than the other and having a corrugated sheet ofbacking therein, means for securing said upper and lower sections tosaid forward section, and means for securing said upper and lowersections" together at their rear edges.

' HERBERT L. ADAMS.

